Entree – Page 14 – The Celiathlete

February 10, 2015

Product Review: Amy’s Kitchen Gluten Free Sandwich Rounds

Product: Amy’s Kitchen Gluten Free Sandwich Rounds – $6.99+

Sometimes, it’s not just my pantry that keeps products for awhile. Back at the beginning of summer, I finally found a local store that carried a certain sandwich bread that I had been searching high and low for. You see, gluten-free bread has always been expensive, and since this particular bread only came with 8 pieces and was about $7.00, I really needed to make sure my budget was going to allow for it.

And so, it was because I finally had it within my clutches, I purchased a box of Amy’s Kitchen Gluten Free Sandwich Rounds.

Amy’s Kitchen and I are BFFs. For real. Her gluten-free products are amazing. All of her products are vegetarian…with a good chunk of them being vegan as well. How’s that for amazing, eh? I haven’t met a product from Amy’s Kitchen that I haven’t fallen in love with. And, for awhile, I was stashing her frozen meals and canned soups/chili in my freezer and/or pantry. When I moved to more of a clean diet, I went for more natural foods rather than frozen and processed. But Amy’s still had a place in my heart…and when anything called for vegetarian chili or the like…it is her brand that I turn to.

So, when I saw online awhile (like years!) that Amy’s Kitchen had created gluten-free Sandwich Rounds (I assumed these were like Sandwich Thins), I went on the hunt. When I came up empty handed, I just sort of gave up on it. Until Earth Fare opened up in my area…and lo and behold…there on the shelf…the Sandwich Rounds. No conversation or budget stopped me from putting that in my shopping basket and bringing them home. Into my freezer. And…there they sat. For a long while. I just kept buying loaves of bread. I didn’t even think about these again until I was reorganizing my freezer and starting to work through the items inside. And when I rediscovered them…I had an idea of how to use them.

Veggie burgers.

Because I had been craving. So, I picked up some of my favorite gluten-free veggie burgers from the store on Sunday (Franklin Farms is the brand, in case you were wondering…delicious and low calorie!). And this morning, I pulled the box Amy’s Gluten Free Sandwich Rounds out of the freezer and removed two of the flat breads to thaw while I was at work.

And this was my only disappointment with this product. I thought that these would be a lot like the Sandwich Thins I used to eat when I was eating horribly unhealthy “diet” bread. Those were thin little bread rounds that were sliced in half. These looked like small three-inch pizza crusts more than sandwich bread. And…in order to actually make a sandwich (or in my case a burger), I would have to double the bread. One piece is just that…one piece. No way to slice it in half to make a sandwich you can pick up. So, forget about that burger…it now became and open-faced sandwich tonight.

So, yeah…I was already a little disappointed. But, after I slid the Amy’s Kitchen Gluten Free Sandwich Rounds into the oven to toast slightly while the burgers cooked and the mushrooms and onions were marinating in bar-b-que sauce. As those finished up, I removed the now warmed thin bread rounds from the oven and began to put together the open faced sandwiches…trying not to be too disappointed that in order to make an entire burger, I’d have to double my calories and everything else. So…this would have to do. A little BBQ sauce on the round, then the veggie patty, melted vegan cheese, and then the barbeque onions and mushrooms to top it off. I served it with a side of Zapp’s New Orleans Style Voodoo Kettle Chips (which are totally amazing!).

Settling into dinner with an open-faced burger instead of an actual burger was a bit of a let-down. But…after I took my fork and knife and sliced into everything and gave it all a taste…all was forgiven. The Amy’s Gluten Free Sandwich Rounds are totally amazing. In fact, they taste like mini pizza crusts. So, now I kind of want to do little individual pizzas and use these as the base. They are amazing. And they even held up to the sauce, the burger, the toppings…without getting soggy and falling apart. Color me impressed. The disappointment for not being able to pick up my dinner faded. The taste, texture, and all-around goodness of this product made up for it in spades. Holy cow!

Let’s look at the ingredients! Amy’s Kitchen Gluten Free Sandwich Rounds are true to Amy’s Kitchen form. Using only ingredients that are recognizable. No fake stuff here. These little sandwich rounds are made from organic rice flour, filtered water, organic sunflower seed meal, organic tapioca starch, organic potatoes, organic extra virgin olive oil, organic agave nectar, sea salt, yeast, and organic rice bran extract. These little sandwich rounds are gluten-free, dairy-free, soy-free, vegan, cholesterol free, and kosher. Love it.

A serving of Amy’s Kitchen Gluten Free Sandwich Rounds is (sadly) one round. This one round piece of bread will provide you with 90 calories and 4 grams of fat. This serving will also give you only 135 mg sodium and 1 gram of sugar. You will also be taking in 1 gram fiber and 2 grams of protein. So, they aren’t very filling, but it’s nice not to have a calorie-laden burger/sandwich. I only wish these could have been split so that I could have picked up my burger instead of having to go all fine-dining on it with a fork and knife.

I am not kidding…Amy’s Kitchen Gluten Free Sandwich Rounds are fantastic. If you happen to find these in your store, I recommend the splurge. Make an open face sandwich…or if you don’t mind 180 calories and 8 grams of fat in one sitting…make a full one. For me…I think mini pizzas are up next. What started off initially as disappointment transformed into nothing but pure joy. This product is truly amazing. I love them!

An Open-Faced BBQ Mushroom & Onion Veggie Burger on an Amy's Kitchen Gluten Free Sandwich Round — An Open-Faced BBQ Mushroom & Onion Veggie Burger on an Amy’s Kitchen Gluten Free Sandwich Round

February 9, 2015

Product Review: Fiona’s Natural Foods Gluten Free Cherry Pecan Oatmeal

Product: Fiona’s Natural Foods Gluten Free Cherry Pecan Oatmeal – $4.99

January has come and gone, but some of us are clinging tightly to our New Years Resolutions. There are so many new members at my gym that it’s virtually impossible to get a machine unless you arrive at 5 a.m. Granted, this happens every year…but it can still be quite the gauntlet to run for about 2-3 months. Along with exercise come vows to eat better and to diet, diet, diet. Now, I’m not one to technically diet. I try to mind what I eat (although I have my weaknesses…like anything creamy like a nut/seed butter) all throughout the year, but it seems when everyone around you is dieting, you become a bit more mindful of what you’re eating as well.

Leave it to Cuisine Cube, then, to put together the perfect cube for January 2015. Enclosed inside were some really fantastic gluten-free products…that had a healthy edge to each and every one of them. I have already dined on the gluten-free white chili mix. And while I have plenty left in this cube, this past day, I realized I was out of my little pouches of oatmeal for lunch…so therefore, I needed something to feast on at work. Since oatmeal is my thing…I remembered that Cuisine Cube had included a package of oatmeal in the latest delivery. I went and dug it out of the box and took it into the kitchen to see about getting it ready for the following day at work.

But I’ll get to that soon enough. Let me first talk about Cuisine Cube. Cuisine Cube is a mail delivery service, starting at a cost as low as $29.99, which delivers amazing, local, small artisan gluten-free products and foods to your doorstep each month. Encased in each box you will find 5-6 products that are free of preservatives and chemicals that you are likely to find in the more common gluten-free product brand names on the shelves of your grocery store. When I first signed up for this, I wasn’t sure what to expect. But I’m hooked. And I love the surprise I get each month when I open up the box and dig out what they included this time. It is truly like Christmas every month. And I have liked and loved pretty much everything that that have included. Not always…but they have a good streak going this far.

Well, with all the promises to get fit and stay fit, it seems Cuisine Cube was prepared. For the breakfast item in the January 2015 cube, they included a pack of Fiona’s Natural Foods Gluten Free Cherry Pecan Oatmeal. This is not the first time Fiona’s Natural Foods has been a part of my Cuisine Cube. I’ve had the opportunity to try (and love) a granola that was included in the very first Cuisine Cube I received (May 2014). This made me very excited to give the oatmeal a try. Fiona’s Natural Foods’ mission is simply to offer consumers an organic, gourmet product that is superior in taste, texture, quality, and nutritional value. They commit themselves to this mission with each product they have on the market. In my January Cuisine Cube, it was the Fiona’s Natural Foods Gluten Free Cherry Pecan Oatmeal.

The first thing I did was scan the packaging for the instructions on how to prepare it. They had a few options…stove top, microwave, or cold. I love overnight oats, and it’s so much easier to do for work than try to fit into the line for the one microwave we have for the 18 people that work in the actual office. So, that’s what I did. There weren’t many instructions, just to combine the oatmeal with milk and let it sit overnight. There were no measurements, so I went with the measurements for the warm version of this cereal. 1/4 cup of the oatmeal – 1/2 cup of milk (I used Silk Unsweetened Cashew Milk). I put it in a mason jar and set it in the fridge overnight. There was a lot of liquid, but I was hoping that the oats would soak most of it up as it sat overnight. It didn’t. Not really…but it was no bother to me.

That following afternoon, around noon, when I usually take my lunch, I went to the kitchen at the office where I stashed my jar of milk and oats in the fridge and brought it back to my desk. I took one bite…and was amazed. The crazy amount of flavor and texture that comes with each bite is fantastic. I will definitely have to give this a try warm in the next few days…but cold it was soupy (so much milk), but amazing. The European-style oatmeal is a hearty and wholesome blend of dried fruits, oats, nuts and seeds. There was no added sugars, no added oil. Nothing that shouldn’t be in there. Extra love just for that. So, I carefully brought a spoonful of the chilled oats and cashew milk up to my lips and tried it.

I am beyond in love with this blend. First of all…the flavors that come out of having no sweeteners or spices included in the ingredients is fantastic. The seeds and nuts make each spoonful take on a fantastic and intriguing texture. I loved the variety. The raisins and tart cherries plumped up sitting in the milk overnight and were sweet and sour all at once. It was fantastic. In fact, today I made it up for my roommate as well. Remember, Cathy doesn’t have to eat gluten-free or vegan or vegetarian…but she does in the apartment. And, guess what? She LOVED the oatmeal. In fact, she said her favorite part was how plump and ripe the bits of raisin and cherry got. Yeah…it’s a total win. Super delicious. I would make this for breakfast, lunch and dinner in a total heartbeat!

Let’s talk ingredients, shall we? The Fiona’s Natural Foods Gluten Free Cherry Pecan Oatmeal is made from certified gluten free rolled oats, certified gluten free steel cut oats, raisins, flax seeds, dried sour cherries, pecans, and sunflower seeds. Yes…that is it. It is raw, wheat free, vegan, soy free, salt free, gluten free, and amazing!! Just pure and simply amazing.

As for nutrition, a serving of Fiona’s Natural Foods Gluten Free Cherry Pecan Oatmeal is 1/4 cup. In this serving, you will be taking in 120 calories and 4 grams of fat. You will also be provided with only 3 grams of sugar. Isn’t that fantastic. This oatmeal is cholesterol free and sodium free. Finally, you will be consuming 3 grams of fiber and 4 grams of protein, which will help make you feel full once you finish your serving. It truly is one of the most fantastic oatmeal combinations I have ever eaten.

I can’t find Fiona’s Natural Foods products here in my area, so when I get something like this, it truly does make me want to place an order for more. And that will certainly be happening as the way this oatmeal plays across your taste buds and excites your palate is really unmatched by anything else I have eaten. Truly a fantastic food in and of itself. Hot or cold…you’re going to want to devour the Fiona’s Natural Foods Gluten Free Cherry Pecan Oatmeal. I know it won’t last long in my pantry.

Another brilliant product brought to me by the amazing Cuisine Cube. I am forever in their debt.

Overnight Oats made from Fiona's Natural Foods Gluten Free Cherry Pecan Oatmeal — Overnight Oats made from Fiona’s Natural Foods Gluten Free Cherry Pecan Oatmeal

January 21, 2015

Restaurant Review: Slightly North of Broad (S.N.O.B.), Charleston, South Carolina

Restaurant: Slightly North of Broad (S.N.O.B.), Charleston, South Carolina

With every marathon I run, there is also a celebratory meal. Usually it is on the same day of said race, but Charleston is an odd duck in that it’s marathon runs on Saturday. And we already had eating plans on Saturday. So, instead of changing everything around, we just decided to have the fancy, special meal on Sunday night. And, after scouring a list of places that Amanda sent me (all of which had gluten-free items), it came down to two options – Poogan’s Porch and Slightly North of Broad.

Cathy chose in the end…opting for Slightly North on Broad because of one item on the menu that caught her eye. This was fine with me…there was this amazing honey drizzled fruit plate dessert on their menu that sounded beyond amazing. So…when Amanda came over to help with the planning session…this was decided. And, to make the occasion even more special, Janet (Cathy & Amanda’s mom), offered to pay for our big meal out this trip.

The best part about where we were staying was that Slightly North of Broad (S.N.O.B.) was literally right across the street from the hotel. Seriously. So, this meant we could stay out and explore until we absolutely had to return to our rooms. Then, we could all clean up and head out to eat, then come back to change and go out for some more exploring! Of course, when Cathy chose this restaurant, we had no idea this was the case. Amanda enlightened us. Odd, how when it came to eats the only one we really ventured out further than the immediate area of our hotel was Brown Dog Deli. And we were over that way anyway as I was shopping for spices, tea, honey and other local goodies. HA!

So Sunday morning and afternoon was spent walking the streets and cemeteries of Charleston. Honestly, if you ever get to visit this amazing city…just walk it, duck into places, explore. You can take tours, yes, but sometimes it’s just fun to get out there and just find something that intrigues you. I was fortunate enough to have Richie and Amanda with me, to act as the local tour guides. They might as well be locals. They know where everything is…how to get there…and come to Charleston often enough it’s second hand. But, even if you aren’t traveling with your own walking guide books…try something new. We returned about an hour and a half before dinner so we could clean up and get ready to make the walk across the street. I took a shower and changed and then we met Amanda and Richie at their room before hoofing it over to S.N.O.B.

We only had a brief wait while they prepared our table for our 6:15 p.m. reservation. And once we were seated and water (and Coke for Richie) was poured, we were left to peruse our menus until our waitress came over to the table. We immediately informed her that I was a gluten free vegetarian, and she immediately opted up with the Vegetable Plate that they serve. She also said she could see what else could be done for me, but a big plate of seasonal and local vegetables sounded absolutely delicious to me. My decision was made. Now the rest of my dining party needed to ponder what they were going to have. The server gave us a few more minutes to decide.

So, let’s discuss S.N.O.B. here, while we are deciding on food, eh? Because this seems like as good a place as any. S.N.O.B. is described as “an eclectic Lowcountry bistro that brings together an abundance of local ingredients and thoughtful, expert presentation with a friendly, contagious energy.” In other words, very big on farm to table. Love that. They have a nice open kitchen, which I absolutely loved since I love being able to glance over and see what is being prepared as it is being prepared. The food they make is the product of the local farmers, fishermen, and producers. So…very Sean Brock. And I love Sean Brock. And if you don’t know who Sean Brock is…Google him now and learn! The setting is low-light, candles, white table cloth, and soft conversations. You get the sounds of the kitchen…the sizzles, the flames, the dishes clinking, all mixing with the pouring of wine and water, and the clink of silverware as it scrapes up that last bit of food from a pristine white plate. This is S.N.O.B.

So…there it is.

When our waitress returned we all had finally settled on what we were going to eat. Richie opted for the Pan Seared Duck Breast ($27.00), which includes savory blue cheese bread pudding, fig jam, Brussels sprouts, and a honey thyme reduction. He saw duck…he knew what he wanted. Amanda ordered the Grilled Pork Chop ($27.00), which is served with crispy confit potatoes, cabbage, and topped with a sorghum and whole grain mustard glaze. Cathy was the foodie of the group and wanted to try something more than just a large appetizer plate, so she did a medium plate with an appetizer, which is recommended on the menu. For her appetizer, she went with the Herb Crusted Eggplant ($12.00), which is topped off with buffalo mozzarella, green heirloom tomatoes, some sprouts, and pesto. For her entrée, she opted for the Carolina Quail ($16.00), which comes with braised greens, tasso cornbread stuffing, Muscadine glaze (that’s from a particular grape, FYI), and quail jus.

As for me…I did go with the Vegetable Plate ($20.00), which is described on the menu as being “a variety of the best vegetables we can find.” Hey…I’m a vegetarian. There are very few vegetables I don’t like. Very few. So…our order was in and we fell into the din of conversations, discussing everything from our events that day to the other people in the restaurant, to wine bottles we could see from our seats, to how much fun we were having. Lots of laughter and lots of fun going on.

Cathy’s appetizer was up first and we all cast out our appreciative ooohs and ahhhs at the tower of eggplant, cheese, tomatoes, and greens, all soaking in a small pool of pesto. She sliced into it, and said that the eggplant was actually really well cooked and that the cheese was amazing. However, as she went on eating, she got tired of the sprouts getting caught in her teeth, and eventually that herb crust got completely mushy with the mix of the eggplant juice, the pesto, and the juicy tomatoes on top. So, it started off really well…but in the end…all went to mush. She polished it off, save for those greens on top though.

A little after her plate was cleared away, the main courses arrived. Amanda had the largest pork chop I had ever seen in my life. It was only polished off with some help from Richie and Cathy. But…she did eat all her potatoes. Richie’s duck was cooked perfectly and I had never seen him clean a plate until this meal. Cathy was less impressed with her entree, finding her favorite part of the quail to be the pan seared area where it was crispy. She hated the greens with a passion (and she eats greens…I cook them at home). And her favorite part of the plate…the tasso corn bread. Everything else left her rather…unimpressed.

S.N.O.B.'s Vegetable Plate — S.N.O.B.’s Vegetable Plate

As for me…when they said a plate of vegetables, they weren’t kidding. Upon further looking at the menu, what I have found is that this plate is a compilation of every vegetable in house and offered as a side on the menu. This plate was mounded high with high fiber vegetables that were cooked however the side was to be cooked, and paired with three different starches. It was beyond filling. This plate included grilled eggplant, heirloom tomatoes, green beans, portobello mushrooms, grilled okra (on the list of vegetables I hate with a passion, so these got left behind!), broccoli (with a sprinkle of Romano cheese), sautéed spinach, caramelized onions, caramelized Brussels sprouts, maverick potatoes, Charleston gold brown rice with some butternut squash, yellow grits (with cheese), some sprouts on top, and some sweet pepper jelly mixed in. The plate was a mish-mash of vegetables, no real plating flair…just piled high. In fact, I didn’t realize I had an heirloom tomato until I moved the eggplant. It was hidden below. That being said…the green beans were…well…green beans. I thought the potatoes were that weird overly-whipped consistency, and ate them by mixing them with one of the vegetables…like green beans or some eggplant just to give it a better texture. The spinach was delicious. I didn’t eat the okra because…GROSS. The eggplant was grilled and good enough…though a touch under-seasoned. The tomato was messy, but fresh and delicious. I love that little hit of sweetness. My favorite things on the plate were the grits, the Brussels sprouts, and the rice. All of which I saved for the last things I ate. And when I was done, I wasn’t sure if I was impressed or not…but it was a massive plate of food that was very filling indeed. I mean, I didn’t dislike it…it was just…okay. They definitely give you $20 worth of vegetables. All local and fresh…so I will give them credit for that.

Afterwards we were asked about desserts. I already had my heart set on something, even though I was filled up to the max. You only get to celebrate once, right? So…to hell with it…desserts all around.

Amanda and Richie decided to split the Crème Brûlée ($7.00), which was a creamy vanilla custard with caramelized brown sugar topping. Cathy went with the Vanilla Ice Cream with a Shortbread Cookie ($6.00) for her dessert. It also came dressed with fresh strawberries. As for me…I went with what caught my eye originally on the menu in the first place…the Fresh Fruit Plate ($7.50), which came drizzled with local honey.

Desserts are a must for me. I love trying desserts when I can. And fruit is one of my favorite desserts to polish off a meal with. The whole drizzled with local honey was an added bonus. Our desserts arrived. Richie had never had a Crème Brûlée before, so this was his first foray into that. Cathy’s ice cream looked fantastic and she crumbled the cookie over it and dove in, enjoying the fresh berries for that added bit of sweetness. My fruit plate consisted of grapes, strawberries, sliced apples, sliced bananas, spear slices, and chunks of fresh pineapple. All of it, as promised, was drizzled with local honey, adding to the sweetness of the plate. But it worked. I mean, it was a plate of fruit, but I couldn’t be happier with it. Everything was perfectly ripe, juicy, and amazing. Delicious and perfect way to end the meal.

While I certainly enjoyed my meal at S.N.O.B., when I return to Charleston next time, I will definitely investigate other options. I am happy for the experience, and loved the company, but the food was just okay to me. Maybe it’s my dietary restrictions…but I wasn’t overly impressed. Don’t get me wrong, I didn’t dislike S.N.O.B. by any means. The food was cooked well and tasted good for the most part. But…there is so much more to taste in Charleston…so while the dinner was nice, I’m eager to go elsewhere next time.

S.N.O.B.'s Fruit Plate dessert — S.N.O.B.’s Fruit Plate dessert

January 21, 2015

Restaurant Review: Brown Dog Deli, Charleston, South Carolina

Restaurant: Brown Dog Deli, Charleston, South Carolina

The Brown Dog Deli is definitely one of Charleston, South Carolina’s little gems. It’s definitely not your average deli…but it is serving up some fantastic food.

And if that doesn’t sound like an intro to Diner’s, Drive-In’s and Dives…I don’t know what does!

But let’s face it…I don’t sugarcoat things. And when I am told over and over again by my Charleston regulars, Amanda and Richie, that I must go eat at the Brown Dog Deli…well you bet your sweet tennis balls and Nylabones that I do. HA. Dog references FTW. Don’t you love it when I laugh at my own jokes?

With this in mind, and packed schedule on Saturday, we made the decision to hit up the Brown Dog Deli on Sunday morning/afternoon for an early lunch of sorts. And after wandering around downtown, hitting up the market, shopping, and just taking in some of the history and beauty of Charleston, we were ready to sit down to a light-ish lunch. We were doing dinner out that night, so we wanted to hit this up early. Naturally, this means we got there at noon. HAHA! But, it was okay.

This funky little diner is located on Broad Street in downtown Charleston, and everyone seems to love it. When we arrived, at around noon on-the-dot, we were greeted by a server and led to a booth. The place had a few other people in there, but it wasn’t hopping. Our server, Meredith, came over to get our drink orders. And Cathy went ahead and gave her the heads up on my food allergies and dietary restrictions. She immediately came back with the fact that they had gluten-free bread and wraps and that they had a separate vegetarian/vegan menu. She retrieved that for me and then filled our drink orders.

I originally was just going to get the Gluten-Free Hummus and Veggies Wrap ($6.95), which would have been a wrap made with roasted red pepper hummus, cucumbers, carrots, tomatoes, red onions, feta, sprouts and spinach. It sounded really good…but the more I looked over the menu and the more my friends were talking about all the different things they were getting (and with the sort-of exception of Cathy…it was something you could only get at this restaurant). So, I ended up changing my mind.

As it was Amanda got what she always gets at the Brown Dog Deli…the Mesquite Turkey Croissant Sandwich ($7.95), which is made up of brie cheese, applewood-smoked bacon, sprouts, red onions, and cranberry-pepper jelly, served on a croissant. It is her favorite thing on the menu. Richie’s favorite sandwich was no longer on the menu, so he decided to try something very different, the Apple “Butter” Jeans Sandwich ($7.95), which is composed of warm melted brie, sliced Granny Smith apples, local apple butter, fresh arugula, mesquite smoked turkey, honey ham, and prosciutto, served on a panini-pressed local French baguette.

Cathy really was interested in the chili that was being offered that day, so she decided she was going to do a cup of that. It was the Southwest Beef and Beer Chili ($3.95) and she opted to pair it with a Build-Your-Own Grilled Cheese ($5.95), selecting Yellow Cheddar, White American Mozzarella, and Goats Cheese as her three cheeses for the sandwich, and choosing to have all of that toasted up on Sourdough Bread.

As for me…I ditched the Hummus and Veggies Wrap and thought to do something I hadn’t seen on a menu anywhere else. I opted for the Gluten-Free Portobello Philly Sandwich…light on the cheese ($6.95). This sandwich was made up of marinated portobello mushrooms, sautéed with peppers and onions, Boar’s Head Vermont yellow cheddar and white American cheese. They had Udi’s bread, which they toasted up to help keep it from immediately falling apart with the wet ingredients.

There was no shortage of things to discuss while we waited on food, but when it arrived, I was so excited. Like I said, this restaurant came highly recommended…and it was now packed with a line waiting to get in. We had good timing. And when food did arrive at our table, I was definitely ready to dig into my sandwich.

So how was the Gluten Free Portobello Philly? It was fantastic. The marinated mushrooms gave this sandwich a “meaty” texture. And the onions and peppers were cooked to perfection…keeping them flavorful and crisp, but also cooking them down so they weren’t raw. They were fantastic. The bread did start to fall apart, but that’s the nature of gluten-free bread. Especially Udi’s. But, with that aside, they were good about keeping the cheese light, and it probably would have been just as fantastic without it on the sandwich. I thought everything was seasoned perfectly.

And I was not alone. Clean plates…that is what we left at the Brown Dog Deli. Cathy loved her soup, and would dip her sandwich into the thick and spicy soup. She raved about the creaminess of the cheeses in her sandwich and how they all, surprisingly, worked when put together. And Amanda and Richie both loved what they ordered. Especially Richie…who had to get something he had never had before. Lunch was later than planned, but a total success. And then, we all purchased matching shirts from the Brown Dog Deli as well.

SO. MUCH. LOVE.

Anyway…if I were to point out one restaurant to anyone wanting to eat the local fare in Charleston, South Carolina…this is the place I would send them. They work with dietary restrictions, they are careful, they create great food…and you will not regret any wait you might have to get a seat inside. It’s worth it.

Brown Dog Deli…I’m coming back next time I’m in that fine city. I can’t wait to try something else!

Brown Dog Deli's Gluten Free Portobello Philly Sandwich — Brown Dog Deli’s Gluten Free Portobello Philly Sandwich

January 21, 2015

Restaurant Review: Wasabi Japanese Steakhouse and Seafood, Charleston, South Carolina

Restaurant: Wasabi Japanese Steakhouse and Seafood, Charleston, South Carolina

This past weekend, I found myself enjoying my time in South Carolina. Not just anywhere though…but the beautiful and historic city of Charleston. I was going there to run in the Charleston Marathon…and then explore with Cathy (my roommate), and my friends Amanda (roomie’s sister) and Richie (Amanda’s hubby). Now, I’ve never been to Charleston, South Carolina…but this is Amanda and Richie’s favorite place to spend their time. So when they have time…this is their stomping grounds. When they originally heard that I was running the Charleston Marathon, they were very helpful in suggesting things to do while in Charleston. And shortly after leaving their home, Richie called and said they just booked a room at the resort and would be going with us. I was elated. Nothing like going somewhere with people who know the city. I was so excited.

So, we arrived late on Friday night and had to do a bunch of pre-race stuff. Saturday I ran the marathon. Afterwards, I usually can’t stand to stomach anything for a little while. My insides are just all messed up. I mean, come on, running over 26.2 miles will do that to you. So, I went back to the hotel, showered, and then Amanda came over. We settled in as I gave some Greek yogurt a try (for the protein). That stayed down…so I knew I could safely do something for lunch…as long as it was easy to digest and not too heavy.

We had mentioned sushi…and that sounded like something I could handle. And, literally just across the street and up a block was the place we went for said sushi…Wasabi!

We stepped inside and were greeted by the hostess, who I think at the time was unwrapping a snack in the nearby closet. She apologized and picked up three menus, carrying them over to a booth near a window that overlooked the street. We settled into the table and began to peruse said menu. I am BIG on vegetarian sushi. Cathy…not liking much fish in sushi was also looking at vegetarian options. Amanda…she was just trying to decide on what classic roll to get. She’s the non-vegetarian traditionalist who isn’t afraid of some fish in her roll. I asked how many rolls we were getting. Amanda, the regular, said she usually got two. So, I began making decisions based off of that. But the more they talked, the more it sounded like everyone was getting one roll. And Cathy seemed interested in the same one as me. HA! Knew that was going to happen.

Then, Amanda came up with a great suggestion…we could all get one roll each and then split the roll Cathy wanted to try three ways. Amanda is brilliant like that, for real. So, when our waiter returned and was prepared to take our order, we had an idea of what we wanted.

Amanda chose between the two she was eying and ended up ordering the California Roll ($5.00). With the decision made to order an extra roll of the one I had my heart set on, Cathy went off the beaten path and ordered the Calamari Tempura Roll ($6.00). As for me…I went with the Avocado Maki Roll ($5.00). Then, we ordered a second Avocado Maki Roll to split between the three of us. Order was in…now we just sort of sat at our booth and talked about the city and what Amanda had in store for us.

Pretty soon, our sushi rolls were arriving. And we were more than happy to dig in. There was nothing stand-out or noteworthy of this sushi just looking at it. It was perfectly rolled nori, surrounding perfectly packed rice and our filling. Cathy commented that her calamari was giving her the finger…so she set out to devour it before it could insult her further. HA! That’s what happens when your food has appendages and the like. By the steady stream of “Mmmm”…we definitely enjoyed what we were having.

I must say…the 8 slices of the Avocado Maki Roll I had from Wasabi Japanese Steakhouse and Seafood were absolutely delicious. A little creamy with the fullness of the rice and the texture of the nori. Mmmm…seriously good. I topped each of my slices of with some of the pickled ginger and a touch of the wasabi offered on the side of the plate. It was sheer perfection in roll form. Honestly…amazing. I mean…nothing that any other good sushi place couldn’t do…but it had been forever since I had sushi…and this settled perfectly into my marathon stomach. Lots of flavor and great texture. The avocado was perfectly ripe. It was a heavenly slice of sushi roll for sure.

I was so happy with this place. Amanda had recommended it because it was gluten-free friendly. And it left me wanting to go back for more. I, sadly, didn’t have enough time this time around, but when I return…it will definitely be a stop. If you’re visiting Charleston, South Carolina…and you love sushi…go and try Wasabi Japanese Steakhouse and Seafood!! Simple food, but done really, really well!

Wasabi's Avocado Maki Roll — Wasabi’s Avocado Maki Roll

January 12, 2015

Product Review: Feel Good Foods Gluten-Free Vegetable Egg Rolls

Product: Feel Good Foods Gluten-Free Vegetable Egg Rolls – $4.99+

Yesterday, I had a great day of great eating. No…I honestly mean it. It started off at my favorite local allergen-free bakery, Annie May’s Sweet Café. I had a delicious breakfast with my roommate and my good friend Patrick. And then…we all went out shopping and spending the rest of the day together. Around 1 p.m., however, our breakfast was gone and we were looking for a light lunch.

Patrick, a vegan, recommended a place, saying he was feeling Asian food. Korean food. However, Asian can be a scary and rather…dangerous…territory for me.

However, he had a backup to his first choice. He took Cathy and I over to a restaurant we had been meaning to try for a long while. Roots…in the Highlands in Louisville. Attached to it was Heart & Soy…but we were really feeling soup and he had quite a few suggestions for each of us. Better yet…both places are both vegetarian, mostly vegan, and had tons of gluten-free options.

Asian food was just what the doctor ordered. I had been craving it for awhile…and this was beyond anything I had in a long time. Most Asian food in my life is P.F. Chang’s…which…let’s face it…isn’t “real” Asian cuisine. So…this was a nice treat and the owner…she was adorable and so sweet. She also knew what Patrick wanted. Cookies. HA!

All of that aside, while I polished off my meal of a small Vegetarian Pho soup and my Sauteed Baby Spinach entrée, Cathy didn’t quite finish her Tofu Clay Pot…so she had some extra. Patrick mentioned pouring it over rice…and Cathy seemed very interested in that idea. I would need something else, as the Tofu Clay Pot wasn’t gluten-free…but I did have baby spinach at home and the idea to recreate the spinach dish I ate and put it with some brown rice. Dinner would be amazing…but I thought it might need a little something more.

For Christmas, my adoptive aunt, Judi, gave me a $50 gift card to Whole Foods. I am one happy girl because now I can start purchasing items I’ve been dying to try but haven’t really been able to justify with my budget. While the three items I decided on today were relatively cheap (I still have over $37 on my card), I was able to not talk myself out of something for fear of not having enough for the basics at the end of the day.

One of my gift card splurge purchases were the Vegetable Egg Rolls made by Feel Good Foods. Let me premise this by saying…I HAVE NOT HAD EGG ROLLS IN THREE YEARS! Yes…three years. Not since going gluten-free. So, when I see the words “GLUTEN FREE” followed by “VEGETABLE EGG ROLLS,” you better believe that box is coming out of the freezer and hitting my shopping basket. And, I had previously tried the Feel Good Foods Vegetable Pot Stickers (and LOVED them!), I felt good about this purchase. I wasn’t going to go, “but what if it sucks…what if I don’t like it?” I was confident it would be good.

Normally, I probably would have gone with the oven baked version of these egg rolls, however…I forgot I had them up until the rice was steaming in my pan on the stove. WHOOPS! So…in a panic, I opted for the pan fry option. And, honestly, I’m so glad I ended up going that way.

But let me come back to that momentarily.

Feel Good Foods has the slogan: Don’t worry. Eat happy. And, with the promise of having no added MSG, no preservatives, and no artificial flavors, I was already feeling good about my purchase. Creators, Tryg and Vanessa met at a restaurant where he was the chef and she was working. When he discovered that she couldn’t have the staff-created meals, he began creating gluten-free versions of the dish. They created Feel Good Foods gluten-free frozen foods after they opened a gluten-free restaurant and were told that they needed to put their food out on the market. Their foods are non-GMO, all-natural and completely gluten-free. You see…Vanessa is a Celiac…so they take food allergies really seriously.

So…egg rolls. It was an easy thing to prepare, thank goodness…since I totally forgot about them until the very last moment. I already had spinach sautéing and wilting down. Crap. But, thankfully there was a simple pan fry method that would get the food done just in time. I got a non-stick pan heating up on the stove with 1/4 cup canola oil. I kept the heat around medium-high, and really let that pan get warm. As it warmed, I opened up the package of egg rolls and placed them on a plate, microwaving them for 30 seconds. Then, using some tongs, I eased each egg roll, flat side down, into the hot oil. I allowed each one to kook until the side was turning a rich, golden brown, then would flip it over and keep each side browning evenly. Once they were done, I removed the egg rolls from the pan and placed them on a paper towel while I served up the rice and topped it off with our perspective toppings…Cathy’s leftovers and my sautéed spinach.

Then…egg rolls were served…with a side of sweet chili sauce (which happened to be in my fridge).

Let me tell you, I will forever pan fry these egg rolls, which will forever have a place in my freezer for sure. I was SO impressed. First of all, by oven frying them, instead of baking them, I got this amazing golden wrap with the most amazing and perfect crispy texture. The vegetables inside were warmed all the way through and packed with delicious flavor and seasoning. I ate my main dish first and devoured the egg rolls, saying that next time I would just have egg rolls for dinner. Holy cow! Most amazing thing ever. Seriously, delicious. It reminded me so much of the egg rolls I used to devour when I ate Chinese food. This little side dish made me beyond happy. I wanted more. I still want more. DELICIOUS!!

Let’s talk about the ingredients. The Feel Good Foods Gluten-Free Vegetable Egg Rolls are made with all-natural ingredients. The filling in these egg rolls is made up of cabbage, yellow onion, bean vermicilli, carrots, green onion, corn starch, sesame oil, and less than 2% of evaporated cane syrup, ginger, salt, black pepper, yeast extract and shiitake mushrooms. The wrapper is made up from water, rice flour and less than 2% of eggs, salt and soy lecithin. As for the batter…it is a mix of water, rice flour, corn starch, canola oil, eggs, evaporated cane syrup, baking powder, salt, and soybean oil.

As for nutritional information, the Feel Good Foods Gluten-Free Vegetable Egg Rolls aren’t bad at all. Not really. A serving is 1 egg roll, in a box that comes with 3 egg rolls inside. One serving is only 90 calories and 2.5 grams of fat. One serving dishes up 5 mg cholesterol, 400 mg sodium, and 3 grams of sugar. One egg roll also delivers 1 gram of fiber and 2 grams of protein.

I really, really, really want to thank Tryg and Vanessa for these amazing frozen treats. They cooked up perfectly. They were packed with flavor. They were, honestly, one of the best things I have had since having to go gluten free. I wish I could hug them both. Because now I can enjoy egg rolls again. Asian food is coming back into my life…and this proves that I don’t have to it all from scratch. Sometimes I just need a hot pan and a little sweet chili sauce…the rest…Feel Good Foods takes care of.

It truly is food that you can feel good about…and makes you feel good about eating.

Now…I’m craving more.

January 10, 2015

Product Review: Van’s Gluten Free Creamy Herb & Garlic Pasta

Product: Van’s Gluten Free Creamy Herb & Garlic Pasta – $3.99+

It was one of those rare visits to Walmart that brought the Van’s Gluten Free Pasta selection into my life. My local Walmart has a small, but very diverse, gluten-free section. I don’t make it a habit to shop there, but if I have to go in there for something, I always swing by that section to see what there is. So often, I find items I haven’t seen anywhere else. That was the case…back then…when it came to the Van’s Gluten Free Pasta meals/sides. I hadn’t seen or found them anywhere else. Now, I pretty much can find them everywhere in the wild…but this was a new thing. And I admit to snatching up all three varieties to add to my pantry.

It is no secret that I am a pasta lover. I mean…growing up, spaghetti was my favorite dinner ever. I would beg my mom to make it each week. I wanted it on my birthday. I wanted it for breakfast. I’m Irish by heritage, but I think I’m Italian somewhere too. What? The pale skin and reddish-blonde hair don’t make you think Italian? HA!

Anyway…these have been sitting on my pantry shelf for a little while now. I never really had a reason to bust them out. I churn through my CSA bin stuff first and then hit up the stuff in my pantry. But, I’ve been on a CSA bin drought this past week as I was away at a friend’s house so put a hold on the bin. This means…dinners were now being prepared by the items I still had in my pantry/fridge/freezer. I am paying off Christmas plane tickets…I wanted as little on my grocery list as possible.

The week was going well. But I realized I have a trip coming up. A fun and exciting trip with my roomie, her sister, and her brother-in-law. Heading to Charleston, South Carolina. I have never been, but everything I have heard about it makes me so excited to be going. I am really looking forward to it. But, what I did realize was that we hadn’t all gotten together to discuss the trip and what we wanted to do. So…we got in touch with Amanda and she said she was able to come over last night. And I was now hunting for a dinner for the three of us.

When I hit up the pantry, my eyes immediately fell on the Van’s Gluten-Free Pasta meals/sides. I pulled out the box…and each box served three. PERFECT. Now it was just a matter of selecting the flavor. I asked my roommate which one sounded good to her, and she said that she was interested in the Creamy Herb & Garlic flavor. With that settled…I was now prepared for dinner for three. I paired it with vegan and gluten-free garlic bread and gluten-free rosemary bread sticks, which were kicking around my freezer.

After work yesterday, I knew Amanda would be on her way. So, I immediately got into the kitchen and put a pot of water on to bring it to a boil. She arrived just as the water was starting up…so it was perfect timing. I opened up the box of Van’s Gluten Free Creamy Herb & Garlic Pasta, being greeted by red penne noodles and a little plastic pouch of seasoning. I removed the pouch and poured the red noodles into the pot, giving it a stir and letting it come back up to a boil. The bread went into the oven to warm through and I spent the rest of the time getting out the almond milk and the vegan butter needed to prepare the rest of the dish. And I was still able to entertain and carry on a conversation. This dish is definitely not labor intensive. LOVE that. As much as I love being in the kitchen, when I have people over, I want to spend my time with them…not hovering over the oven or stove.

The box stated that it would take about 8-10 minutes for the pasta to cook through to the perfect al dente. I think it took about 10-12 minutes for me. But…it eventually got there. I turned the burner down to low and removed the pot from the heat, pouring out the contents and letting the noodles drain. I then dropped the 2 tablespoons of butter and 3 tablespoons of (almond) milk into the pot and let it all melt together. Then…in went the seasoning packet. I gave it a stir and just worked it together until this thick and delicious smelling sauce emerged. Then…the noodles went back into the pan and I stirred it all together, coating each noodle to perfection. There was no excess sauce. Just the perfect amount. And it looked awesome.

The garlic bread and bread sticks finished up and I pulled them from the oven and sliced each one into thirds. Then, I dished up the Van’s Gluten Free Creamy Herb & Garlic Pasta into three bowls and delivered one to Amanda, one to Cathy, and kept one for myself. Dinner was served.

I won’t lie…I was beyond nervous to be serving something up to Amanda that I hadn’t tried yet. She is always willing to try my gluten-free foods and is very patient with me…but sometimes a new product is a bust…and being that this was untested by me…I was just hoping for the best. But…we all came to the same consensus. It was BEYOND delicious. WOW! The flavor profile was amazing. The sauce is creamy, without being too much. It brings this great garlic flavor, without being overpowering. And the earthy herbs lend a depth of flavor to each bite. The red noodles looked fantastic coated in the sauce, and they provided a perfect vehicle for the creamy nature of the sauce itself. We devoured this meal. Honestly. And the entire time couldn’t stop talking about how good it was. SCORE!

I should have known not to doubt Van’s when it comes to their gluten-free products. I haven’t met one I have disliked yet.

Let’s talk ingredients! The Van’s Gluten Free Creamy Herb & Garlic Pasta is made with gluten free penne pasta (brown rice flour, red lentil flour, beet powder, tomato powder), garlic and herb seasoning (reduced lactose whey, rice flour, milk powder, parmesan and romano cheese, natural flavors, salt, sugar, spice, and garlic powder). It is low in fat, low in calories, and filling.

As for the nutrition information, a serving of the Van’s Gluten Free Creamy Herb & Garlic Pasta is 1/3 of the box, or about 2.4 ounces (68 grams). This serving will provide you with 320 calories and 3 grams of fat. You will also be consuming 5 mg cholesterol, 46o mg sodium, and only 2 grams of sugar. That’s really good for a packaged pasta with a sauce. Trust me. And, finally, the serving gives you 3 grams of fiber and 11 grams of protein. Trust me, you may find the serving to appear small, but you will feel full after eating it. It wasn’t just amazing…it felt like a full meal! Perfect serving size of pasta too.

If you are like me and try to keep a few items in your pantry for those nights you don’t really have a lot of time to cook…or want to hit up the grocery store for special ingredients…be sure to keep some of the Van’s Gluten Free Pasta dishes in your pantry. I love how this one turned out and now I can’t wait to try out the other two varieties in my pantry. In addition to the Creamy Herb & Garlic, Van’s Gluten Free Pasta includes flavors such as Ultimate Cheddar Penne and Rotini and Red Sauce. I’m already looking forward to the next excuse to make this easy-to-prepare pasta dinner.

SO much love. You really need to give it a try…seriously. Just…do it!

January 4, 2015

Product Review: CoraBella Gluten Free Rice and Potato Gnocchi

Product: CoraBella Gluten Free Rice and Potato Gnocchi – $5.50+

Before I was diagnosed as a Celiac, one of my favorite cuisines was Italian food. Guess what? It still is. Growing up, my favorite dinner was my mom’s spaghetti. When my friends had me over for dinner…spaghetti was often on the menu. I was in love with everything about pasta.

But it took a trip to Ireland back when I had my first taste of gnocchi. Yep. Ireland. But then, I was obsessed with it. Little puffy pastas made of flour and potato. Heavenly.

But then…with my diagnosis…gnocchi was off the menu. Sure, there were plenty of recipes out on the Internet for gluten-free gnocchi, but it all just seemed so time consuming. I later discovered a couple of brands of frozen gnocchi. One was horrible. One was good. But, those were the only two times I had it…aside from my one time I made gluten-free pumpkin gnocchi. But none of it equaled up to the “real” thing.

So, you can imagine my excitement when my Winter (December) Cuisine Cube arrived in the mail this past month. If you’ve been reading this blog, you know that I am completely in love with my subscription to Cuisine Cube. Cuisine Cube is a monthly delivery system that brings amazing and delicious to your door. This team of enthusiastic eaters, food professionals, and allergy sufferers from New York City created this gluten-free delivery service to bring lesser-known brands, made by small artisan producers that taste better and are better for you than those gluten-free brands available in supermarkets around the country, to your very own front door. Honestly…check them out and give it a try. It’s my favorite part of each month. Hands down.

In this month’s Cuisine Cube, I received six fantastic and new-to-me products! YAY! I have already reviewed one product from the December cube…but tonight I am reviewing another one. Because tonight was my belated New Year’s Eve party with my friend Jenn in Columbus, Ohio. Jenn does not have to eat gluten-free. She’s Italian. And she, much like me, loves food. We normally cook something at least once on my visit…and I tweeted to her earlier this week about what to do for dinner.

Well, I mentioned that I had a package of CoraBella Gluten Free Rice and Potato Gnocchi that I could bring with me. She said that sounded great…and we would make Pão de Queijo (Brazilian Cheese Bread) to accompany it. And why not? Italian main dish, Brazilian side. This…is what we do. We mix things up.

Well, we got the bread (which is naturally gluten-free!) going in the oven and then set out to make the gnocchi. SO easy.

CoraBella Gluten Free Rice and Potato Gnocchi takes less than five minutes to cook. No joke. Bring water to a boil…and add some salt. Then, add the pasta and allow it to cook until the gnocchi rises to the top. Then let it cook for an additional two minutes, drain, and then serve with your favorite sauce. Yep…that easy.

The CoraBella Gluten Free Rice and Potato Gnocchi cooked up perfectly. Honest-to-goodness pillows of potato pasta. They floated to the top and when drained…looked stunning. Jenn mixed them with a little bit of sauce and dinner was served. I couldn’t wait to give it a taste.

Jenn, my roommate Cathy, and I have all taste-tested the other two brands of gluten-free gnocchi together. We are true gnocchi lovers. Especially Jenn! So…this was a big deal. We’ve had one hit and one miss. But the CoraBella…the CoraBella Gluten Free Rice and Potato Gnocchi…was a home run. The gnocchi itself was very light and soft and…amazing. When your Italian friend says, “This tastes like regular gnocchi!”…you know…you just know that it’s good. And it was. It was beyond good. The pasta didn’t stick together when cooking. The pasta was soft and amazing. It paired well with the red sauce, but it would also be amazing crisped up by sauteeing it in a pan with butter. It was this fantastic bowl of light, fluffy, doughy pasta goodness. SO good. I was beyond impressed. I am planning on hitting up the Cuisine Cube Stock Up site for more. This must forever be in my pantry.

There is a reason that the gluten-free gnocchi is one of CoraBella’s best selling pastas. This pasta is made in Italy using the best raw materials from selected mills so that they can put out a genuine pasta that tastes like it was straight out of Italy. They are doing it right. Trust me. I am so happy with this product. My stomach is still happy with this product. If you haven’t tried CoraBella Gluten Free Rice and Potato Gnocchi…you need to. Stat.

Let’s talk about ingredients, shall we? The CoraBella Gluten Free Rice and Potato Gnocchi is made from rice flour, water, potato starch, salt, lactic acid, and potassium sorbate. It is not only gluten-free, but also sugar free, cholesterol free, and virtually fat free.

As for nutrition goes, a package of the CoraBella Gluten Free Rice and Potato Gnocchi serves 4 people. A serving size is about 4 ounces each. In this serving, you will be eating 210 calories and 0.5 grams of fat. A serving also provides 300 mg sodium and 0 grams of sugar. This serving of gnocchi has 1 gram of fiber and 4 grams of protein.

Seriously…the best gluten-free gnocchi you will ever eat. Amazing. It really is. If you haven’t checked out Cuisine Cube yet…what are you waiting for? And if you’ve never heard of CoraBella Gluten Free Rice and Potato Gnocchi yet…what are you waiting for? Find it. Order it. Enjoy it.

Trust me on this one. There is nothing out there that compares. Just simply the best.

CoraBella Gluten Free Rice and Potato Gnocchi (cooked and served with marinara)

January 1, 2015May 11, 2015

Recipe: Black-Eyed Peas with Coconut Milk and Ethiopian Spices

Back in November, when I ran the TCS New York City Marathon, my friends and I celebrated my finish by going out to eat…at Marcus Samuelsson’s restaurant, Red Rooster, in Harlem. Amazing meal and amazing experience. When my server came to the table, we explained that we were celebrating my completion of my final marathon of the year and then mentioned my food allergies. He said he would go speak to the chef.

The chef was also a marathon runner and asked if he could create a dish for me. I never turn down this opportunity. I love it when chef’s get a bit creative with the ingredients they have on hand to produce a dish off the cuff. I was more than happy to allow him to do so.

One part of the dish was this amazing curried black-eyed pea dish. I was beyond impressed. So, naturally, I went hunting online for a recipe. And while this is not the exact dish that I had at Marcus Samuelsson’s restaurant, this was one amazing dish. One I was beyond happy to cook up.

I made a few minor tweaks, substituting the cilantro with collard greens. I also used dried ginger instead of fresh. The habanero is important. It adds sweetness and a bit of heat (but it is seeded, so not too much!). Do not leave it out. Also, invest in berbere seasoning. It is my favorite spice on my spice shelf at the moment.

Recipe: Black-Eyed Peas with Coconut Milk and Ethiopian Spices

Servings: 8-10
Time: Prep 15 minutes; Cook 55 minutes

Ingredients:

2 cups dried black-eyed peas (12 ounces)
Kosher salt
4 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 large red onion, minced
1-1/2 tablespoons minced peeled fresh ginger
3 garlic cloves, minced
1 habanero chile, seeded and minced
2 teaspoons berbere seasoning (see Note)
1 teaspoon ground turmeric
3 medium tomatoes, chopped
1 cup coconut milk
1 cup vegetable broth
1/3 cup chopped collards

Directions:

In a large saucepan, cover the peas with water and bring to a boil.

Simmer over moderately low heat until tender, about 40 minutes. Add a generous pinch of salt and let stand for 5 minutes, then drain well.

Meanwhile, in a large saucepan, melt the butter.

Add the onion, ginger, garlic and chile and cook over moderate heat, stirring occasionally, until softened and just starting to brown, about 10 minutes.

Add the berbere and turmeric and cook, stirring, until fragrant, about 2 minutes.

Add the tomatoes and cook, stirring, until softened, about 5 minutes.

Stir in the coconut milk and stock and bring to a boil. Simmer over moderately low heat, stirring occasionally, until the tomatoes break down and the sauce is thickened, about 20 minutes.

Add the peas to the sauce and cook over moderately low heat, stirring, until the peas are lightly coated, about 10 minutes.

Fold in the collards and serve.

~*~*~

This definitely had a bit of bite to it. I almost thought it would be too spicy for my roommate, but she said that she could just handle it. I absolutely loved it. Definitely not the dish I had at Red Rooster, but amazing and delicious all its own. And with the New Year almost here, it is often considered lucky to have black-eyed peas and collard greens on New Year’s Day in the South. So, here is an easy, delicious dish where you can enjoy both in a new and different way.

I have the leftovers in my freezer. Can’t wait to enjoy it again at a later date.

December 30, 2014

Product Review: Lotus Foods Rice Ramen + Recipe Bonus

Product Review: Lotus Foods Rice Ramen – $2.75+

Say it with me…

FINALLY!

Finally the gluten-free world gifts me with…gluten-free ramen! I have been waiting a long time for this.

I know what you’re thinking…

“Really? Ramen?”

Trust me…when you are faced with never being able to eat something again…finally is what comes to mind when you suddenly are given that something. I never knew how much I missed ramen…until I was suddenly able to have it again.

And for this great pleasure, I once again have to credit the amazing Cuisine Cube! Honestly, this is the best money I have ever spent each month. It is always a surprise as to what is inside the cube that arrives in the mail. And I am like a kid at Christmas when I open it up. Back in October’s box…Cuisine Cube included not just one, but two, packages of Lotus Foods Gluten Free and Reduced Sodium Rice Ramen.

Two flavors: Millet & Brown Rice with Miso Soup as well as Forbidden Rice with Miso Soup.

Color me excited. I was so ready to make some ramen. After all, I studied Japanese all through college and ramen is a way of life in Japan. Now…it was back in mine.

Let’s talk about Lotus Foods for a moment, shall we? The products produced by Lotus Foods are recognized for their exceptional cooking quality, taste, texture, and superb nutritional value. The ancient and new rices that compose their products are grown on family farms in limited quantities, on healthy, chemical-free soils. The rice and rice products that are produced by Lotus Foods are found in specialty gourmet, natural food markets, grocery stores, white tablecloth restaurants throughout the United States, becoming a fast favorite of consumers who are seeking healthier options, as well as chefs and foodies across the country.

I decided to do an even mix when it came to the two packages of Lotus Foods Rice Ramen that I received from Cuisine Cube. I’d prepare one package as is stated on the package itself. The other…I would cook up in a recipe.

Lotus Foods Millet & Brown Rice Ramen with Miso Soup

The one that I chose to shine on its very own was the Lotus Foods Millet & Brown Rice Ramen. These traditional Japanese-style noodles are created using their specialty rice instead of wheat. Not only are these gluten-free, but both millet and brown rice are some of the most nutritious and easily digestible grains.

Nothing could be easier to cook. Simply bring 2 cups of water to a boil. Add in the ramen and simmer for about 4 minutes. Stir every now and again, breaking the noodles apart. When the noodles are soft, remove the pot from the heat and mix in the contents of the enclosed soup package. You can then add in any additional veggies and protein as you wish. I added some corn…because I happen to have a lot of fresh corn in my freezer leftover from this summer.

So…what emerged was a hearty, but delicious miso soup. One that is not only gluten-free, but also vegan and non-GMO. All of Lotus Foods rice products are made from organic rice…and that includes the rice ramen.

So…how did it taste? Fantastic. I love that this is also reduced sodium, as a lot of ramen on the market is overflowing with unneeded sodium. I was impressed with that stat on the nutritional information immediately. But as for the taste…the millet and brown rice lend a rich and nutty taste to the noodles themselves. And the soup pack provided a ton of flavor to the hot water. I love the mix of spices that brought a slight bit of heat and sweetness to the entire dish. It was simple to cook and fun to eat. Chopsticks not included.

Lotus Foods Millet & Brown Rice Ramen with Miso Soup (prepared with corn)

Let’s look at the ingredients in Lotus Foods Millet & Brown Rice Ramen. The ramen is made from organic brown rice flour, organic millet flour, water, and organic white rice flour. The soup pack contains red miso powder (cultured soybeans and rice, salt) tamari powder, salt, red onion powder, dried wakame seaweed, sugar, garlic powder, ginger powder, dried parsley, and dried chili peppers. It is gluten-free, cholesterol free, organic, high in fiber and protein, non-GMO, low fat, vegan, and truly delicious!

As for the nutritional information…well…the Lotus Foods Millet & Brown Rice Ramen packs contain 2 servings, so a serving isze is 1/2 ramen with the seasoning. This serving will provide you with 140 calories and 1.5 grams of fat. This portion will also give you 460 mg sodium and 1 gram of sugar. See how amazing that sodium level is?! It has 25% less sodium than regular ramen soup. This serving also provides 2 grams of fiber and 5 grams of protein. It may not seem like much when you look at it…but trust me…you will feel full after eating your bowl of this ramen.

In addition to the Millet & Brown Rice variety, Cuisine Cube threw in the Lotus Foods Forbidden Rice Ramen as well.

Lotus Foods Forbidden Rice Ramen with Miso Soup

Forbidden Rice is one of the most nutritious ancient grains. It is made from Lotus Foods heirloom black rice instead of wheat. I love the purple color that these noodles take on. It’s really fantastic. Instead of cooking these up according to the package, I incorporated these into a recipe. But…I’m getting ahead of myself. The forbidden rice ramen also has a delicious nutty taste and a great texture to them. In addition, these noodles are a natural source of antioxidants. This package comes with a savory white miso broth to create the noodle soup with. I, instead, incorporated it with the recipe I made. I added a ton of extra vegetables to create a delicious meal. The recipe will follow the ingredients and nutritional information.

Taste was superb. The noodles are amazing and perfect. I wish Cuisine Cube had included more. But, that’s why they have a Stock Up page on their Web site…to stock up. I hope to do just that…because…YUM!

The Lotus Foods Forbidden Rice Ramen noodles are made from organic black rice flour, organic brown rice flour, and organic white rice flour, and water. The soup pack is made from white miso powder (cultured soybeans and rice, salt), salt, white onion powder, tamari powder, soybean powder, mushroom powder, dried parsley, and dried carrots. It is gluten-free, cholesterol free, organic, non-GMO, low fat, and vegan. WOOT!

As far as nutrition goes, Lotus Foods Forbidden Rice Ramen serves 2 people per pack, so a serving size is 1/2 of the package with the seasoning. This serving will provide you with 140 calories and 1.5 grams of fat. In addition, this portion gives you 400 mg sodium and 1 gram of sugar. Yes, the Forbidden Rice Ramen contians 33% less sodium than regular ramen. That’s fantastic. And, finally, you will have less than 1gram of fiber and 3 grams of protein. With less of these final two nutritional factors, load this up with hearty vegeatbles or your protein of choice.

Or…do what I did…

Recipe: Ramen Noodle Soup with Sugar Snap Peas, Mushrooms and Corn

Servings: 4-6
Time: Prep 15 minutes; Cook 20 minutes

Ingredients:

2 Tbs. olive oil
2 shallots, chopped
4 cloves garlic, minced
6 cups vegetable broth
1 packet of Lotus Foods Forbidden Rice Ramen noodles (dried ramen noodles)
1 can diced tomatoes
1-1/2 cups sugar snap peas, trimmed and halved diagonally
1/2 cup corn
1/2 cup crimini mushrooms, sliced
Salt and freshly ground pepper
Hot sauce, such as Sriracha, for serving

Directions:

In a large, heavy pot, warm the oil over medium-high heat.

Add the shallots and garlic and saute for 3 minutes.

Add the mushrooms and saute for another 3 minutes.

Add the broth and bring to a boil.

Add the ramen noodles and tomatoes and cook, stirring occasionally, for 5 minutes.

Add the sugar snap peas, corn, and the seasoning packet from the Lotus Foods Forbidden Rice Ramen and cook for 2 minutes.

Season with salt and pepper and serve. Add hot sauce, if desired.

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Let me tell you, I was amazed with how good this recipe was. And thanks to Lotus Foods Forbidden Rice Ramen Noodles…I was able to create this and cook it up. It had rich depth of flavor. The Forbidden Rice Ramen noodles added a nice hit of bold color. And the soup itself had this great umami flavor. It was rich and loaded with nutrients and fresh vegetables. It was love at first slurp. And there was a ton of slurping going on.

If you haven’t looked into a subscription to Cuisine Cube, I do highly recommend it. In addition, I encourage you to seek out or order Lotus Foods Rice Ramen and give it a try. Especially, if you’re like me, and didn’t even remember what you were missing. It was so delicious. Or, as they say in Japan, “Taihen Oishikattadesu!”

Another product I love, brought to me with great thought and great care from Cuisine Cube. I’m loving this service.